Fish bait or lure.



JAY s. sirenas, or KALAMAZoo, MICHIGAN.

FlSl-i BATT 0R LURE..

Specification of Letters Patent.

.Patented oct. 3'1, 196e.

Application led December 5, 1904. Serial No. 235,570.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.: b

Be it known that I, JAYB. RHODES, aeitizen of the United States, residing at the city of Kalamazoo, county of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fish Baits or Lures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fishing baits -or lures.

The objects of this invention are, first, to provide an improved artificial bait or lure which shall strongly imitate a natural or live bait; second, to provide in a fish bait or lure an improved means for securing the hooks.

Further objects and objects relating to structural details will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

l accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined, and pointed outin the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of-.this specification, in whichW Figure 1 is a side elevation View of my irnproved artificial bait or lure. Fig. 2 isalongitudinal sectional view taken on a line corresponding to line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the little arrows at -the ends of the section-line, the legs B and the rod A" boing shown in full lines and the outer position of the legs being indicated by dotted lines.

ln the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar parts in both views.

Referring to the drawings, the body A is preferably made in imitation of the body of a frog. In the rear end of the body A is a horizontally-arranged slot A', adapted to receive the forward ends of the legs B. The legs B are arranged in this slot and are pivotally secured to the body by the pivot-pins By thus securing the legs to the body they have a free lateral movement and at the same time are very strongly and simply secured.

A rod A" is slidably arranged through the body A. This rod is connected to the legs B by the cross-piece or head a on its rear end, which engages the notches b in the inner edges of the legs, as clearly appears in Fig. 1, so that bythe reciprocation of the rod the legs are moved. The rod A" is provided with an eye a" at its forward end, to which the fishingline is secured. A coiled spring a` is arranged on the rod A, one end of the spring bearing against the head or cross-piece a and the other against the body A. This holds the rod normally rearward, thus throwing the legs normally outward, as shown 'by dotted lines in Fig. 2. When there is a pull on the line, the legs are drawn inward to the position illustrated in the drawings. When the line is again slackened, the legs are again thrownoutward by the spring.

The hooks C are secured to the body A by the hook-shaped fasteners c, which engage the ends of the hooks. -These fasteners are pro' vided with eyes to receive the retaining-screws c', the prongs of the hooks of the fasteners c entering suitable cavities or holes in the body, so that it is impossible to disengage the hook C until the fasteners are loosened by loosening the retaining-screws c therefor. When it is desired to attach a hook, the screws cf are loosened until the eye of the hook may be slipped over the prong of the fastenerhook, and the detaining-screw is then tightened, drawing the prong of the fastener down into the body. Longitudinal grooves or kerfs C' are formed in the sides of the body A. The fasteners C are preferably arranged in these kerfs C with their engaging portions pointing forwardly. This secures the hook so that its eye portion is held within the l groove, thus making it impossible for the hooks secured on opposite sides-of the body to become entangled with each other either above or below the body. The fasteners c are preferably secured by screws having round heads, as illustrated in the drawings, so that when the hooks are in theirrearward position, as is illustrated, these heads form rests for'the Shanks of the hooks, holding them out in the most effective position to receive the strike of the fish.

My improved artificial bait or lure is very effective and may be caused to make a suffiy cient movement to attract the attention of the fish. It is very convenient to use and to mani'pulate. I have illustrated and described the same in detail in the form preferred by me, as the structure is very simple and economical. I am, however, aware that it is capable of very great structural variation without departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is#

1. In an artificial bait or lure, the combination of a body havinga horizontally-ar- IOO ranged slot in its rear end; legs having notches in their inner edges toward their forward ends2 arranged in said slot; vertically-arranged pivots for securing said` legs to said body; a rod arranged longitudinally through said vbody and adapted to reciprocate therein; a spring adapted to hold said rod normally rearward; a head or cross-piece on said rod adapted to engage the notches in said legs; longitudinal grooves or kerfs in the sides of said body; hooks; hook-like fasteners for said hooks arranged in 'said grooves; and round-headed screws for retaining said'fasteners., the heads of said screws being arranged to serve as bearings for the Shanks of said hooks when said hooks are in their rearward positions, for the purpose specified;

2. In an artificial bait or lure, the combination of a body .having a horizontally-arranged slot in its rear end; le s having notches in their inner edges towar their forward ends, arranged in said slot; verticallyarranged pivots for securing said legs to said body; a rod arranged longitudinally through said body and adapted to reciprocate therein; a spring adapted to hold said rod' normally rearward; a head or cross-piece on said rod adapted to engage the notches in said legs; longitudinal rooves or kerfs in the sides 0f said body; hoo s; hook-like fasteners for said hooks arranged in said grooves; and

screws for retaining said fasteners, for thev purpose specified.

3. In an artificial bait or lure, the combination of a body having a horizontally-arranged slot in its rear end; le s having notches in their .inner edges towar their forward ends, arranged in said slot; verticallyarranged pivotsv for securing said legs 'to said body; a rod arranged longitudinally through said body and adapted to reciprocate therein; a springarranlgled to hold said rodv normally rearward; a ead or cross-piece on said rod adapted to enga e the notches in said legs; hooks; hook-li e fasteners for said hooks; and round-headed screws for retaining said fasteners, the heads of said screws bein arranged to lserve as bearings for4 the shan s of said hooks when said hooks are in their rearward positions, for the purpose specified.4 4. In an artificial lbait or lure, the combination of a body having a horizontally-arranged slot in its rear end; le s having notches in their inner edges towar their forward ends, arranged in said slot; verticallyarranged pivots for securing said legs to said body; a rod arranged longitudinally through said'body and adapted to reciprocate therein; a spring adapted to hold said rod normally rearward; a head or cross-piece on said rod adapted to enga e the notches in said legs; hooks; hook-li e fasteners for said hooks; and screws for retaining said fasteners,"for the purpose specified.

scarse 5: In an artificial bait or lure, the combination of a body having a horizontally-arran edy slot in its rear end; legs arran ed in mally outward longitudinal grooves or kerfs' in the sides of sai body; hooks; hook-like fasteners for said hooks arranged in said p ooves and round-headed screws for retainnn said fasteners, the heads of said'screws bein arranged to serve as bearings for the shan of said hooks when said hooks are in their rearward positions, for the purpose specified.

6. In an artificial bait or lure, the combination of a body having a horizontally-arran ed slot in its rear end; legs arranged in sai slot; vertically-arranged pivots for securing said legs to said bod a-rod arranged longitudinally through sai body andadapted to reciprocate therein, connected to said legs; a spring adapted to hold said legs normally outward longitudinal grooves or kerfs,

in the sides of said body; hooks; hook-like fasteners for said hooks arranged in said grooves; and screws for yretaining said' fasteners, for the urpose specified.

7. In an artificial bait or lure, the combination of a body having a horizontally-arranged s'lot in its rear end; legs arranged in said slot; vertically-arranged pivotsfor securing said legs to said bod a rod-arrangedlongitudinally through sai body and adapted to reciprocate therein, connected to said IOO legs; a spring adapted to hold said legs normally outward; hooks; hook-like fasteners for said hooks; and round-headed screws for retaining said fasteners, the heads of said screws bein arranged to serve as bearings for the shan s of said hooks when said hooks are in their rearward positions, for the purpose s ecified. l

8. n an artificial bait or lure, the combination of a body having a horizontally-arranged slot in its rear end; legs arranged in said slot; vertically-arran ed .pivots for securing said legs to said bo a rod arranged longitudinally through said body and adapted to`reciprocate therein, connected tosaid legs; a spring adapted' to hold said legs no rmally outward; hooks; hook-like fasteners for said hooks; and screws for retaining said fasteners, for the purpose specified.

9. In an artificial bait or lure, the combination of a body having a horizontally-ararranged pivots for securing said legs to said body; a rod arranged longitudinallythrough said bodyand adapted to reciprocate therel in; a spring adapted to hold said rbd normally rearward; a head or cross-piece. on said rod adapted to engage the notches in said legs; and suitable hooks carried by said body, for the purpose s ecified.

10. In an arti cial bait or lure, the combination ofa body having a horizontally-ar ran ed slot in its rear end; legs arranged in sai slots; vertically-arranged pivots for securing said legs to said body; a rod arranged longitudinally through said body and adapted to reciprocate therein, connected to said legs; a s pring adapted to hold said le s normally outward; and suitable hooks, for the purpose specified.

11. In an artificial bait or lure; the combination of a body; legs; vertically-arranged pivots for securing said le s to said body; a rod arranged longitudina ly through said body and ada ted to reciprocate therein; connected to sai le s; a sprmg adapted' to hold said le s norma ly outward; and suitable hooks; or the purpose specified.

12. In an artificial bait or lure, the combin'ation of a body; legs pivotally secured to said body; a rod; arranged longitudinally through said body and adapted to reciprocate therein, connected to said legs; a spring adapted to hold said legs normally outward;

and suitable hooks, for the purpose specified.

13. In a bait or lure; the combination of ay body; movable members therefor; a spring adapted to hold said movable members in one position; a fishin -line operatively connected to said movab e members ada ted to move them I,against the tension of t e said sprin s; and suitable hooks, for the purpos speci ed.

14. In a bait or lure, the combination of a body; movable members therefor; a fishin line or cord operatively connected to sai movable members whereby movement may be imparted to them; and suitable hooks, for the purpose specified.

15. In an artificial bait or lure, the combination of a body; lonitudinal grooves or kerfs in the sides of said body; hooks; hooklike fasteners for said hooks arranged in said grooves, having eyes therein adapted to receive screws; and round-headed screws for retaining said fasteners, the heads of said fasteners; for the purpose specified.

17. In an artificial bait or lure, the combination of a body; hooks; hook-like fasteners vfor said hooks; having eyes therein adapted to receive screws; and round-headed screws for retaining said fasteners, the heads of said screws bein arranged to serve as bearings for the shan s of said hooks when said hooks are in their rearward positions; for the purpose specified,

18. In an artificial bait or lure, the combination of a body; hooks; hook-like fasteners for said hooks, having eyes therein adapted to receive screws; and screws for retaining said fasteners; for the purpose specified.

19. In an artificial bait or lure; the combination of a body; a hook; a hook-like fastener adapted to engage the eye of said hook; and a screw for securing said fastener to said body,.for the purpose s ecified.

In witness whereof I ave hereunto set my hand and seal in presence of two witnesses.

JAY B. RHODES. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

OTTIME' C. FREIBERG; E. A. GARDINER. 

